Shloka 5
Saṃvaraṇa–Tapatī Vivāhaḥ (The Marriage of Saṃvaraṇa and Tapatī) — Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva 163
आसाद्य तु वनं तस्य रक्षस: पाण्डवो बली । आजुहाव ततो नाम्ना तदन्नमुपपादयन्
āsādya tu vanaṁ tasya rakṣasaḥ pāṇḍavo balī | ājuhāva tato nāmnā tad-annam upapādayan |
Vaiśampāyana said: Having reached the forest that belonged to that rākṣasa, the mighty Pāṇḍava Bhīma began to call him aloud by name, while setting out the food—indeed, eating the provisions himself—so as to draw the man-eating demon out.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Strength is ethically justified when used to protect others: Bhīma deliberately exposes himself to danger to end a predator’s terror, embodying dharma as active guardianship rather than passive piety.
Bhīma reaches the rākṣasa’s forest with the food meant as tribute, calls the demon out by name, and uses the bait (even eating the provisions) to provoke the encounter that will lead to the rākṣasa’s defeat.